I’m on pins and needles. I’ve spared you all my weekly reactions to the show, but, yeah, I’m a fan. Big time. For those not familiar with this particular string of letters, this is the program So You Think You Can Dance. I love it. Dancers…from classically trained ballet dancers to street-trained hip-hoppers…are challenged to dance…and dance well…in other styles. It’s American Idol for dancers, and a hell of a lot more challenging and interesting. It’s a showcase for all forms of dance, from ballet (tho that only once so far) to bollywood. They even had tahitian this year! (Go, Lauren!) The hands down best choreography I’ve ever seen is coming out of this show, as well as some of the most amazingly well-rounded dancers I think the world has ever seen. It’s exciting and an absolute tribute to artistic dedication and what the human body is capable of.
General comments: Love the new format with the all-stars for partners…until the final few rounds. This means no single competitor’s performance is held back by the limitations of a partner dancing outside his/her comfort zone. It means the choreographers have way more options, and we’ve seen jaw dropping routines since week one.
Was very sad when Alex Wong was injured and had to step down for tendon surgery. I was quite upset in season 5 (actually only a year ago, cuz they did two rounds last year) when he made it all the way to the top 20, then had to step down because he couldn’t get a release from his Miami Ballet contract. Having seen him dance now, it’s clear why Edward Vilella was reluctant to let him go. He was my favorite hands down from day one. Hope he comes back next season and isn’t snatched up by a company in between. He’s very, very special. Just go google him on You Tube, if you don’t believe me.
But there’s another extremely special dancer, and she (yes, for those who know me too well, she) is utterly a-ma-zing. Lauren Froderman. Suffice to say, she’s now on my favorite dancers short list…and the only female on the list. Again…search on YouTube for some breathtaking footage. She’s the only woman left standing, and for a reason. She’s the only dancer period who stood out for me during the audition stage. (Alex had a buy into the finals, so he doesn’t count.) She’s a gymnast and a dancer and she feels the music, whatever the style, to her very core…not something you can say for anyone else I’ve ever seen on the show…and that includes my beloved Travis. He faltered in some styles…but that’ s another post. There’s never a time where she’s just counting and performing the steps. The music goes in her ears and comes out her pores.
She’s tough when she needs to be tough, sexy when that’s called for (a difficult task for an 18 year old with a sweet baby-face and blond curls), vulnerable at call, “filthy” when necessary…in short, she’s everything I want in a dancer and has a versatility I’ve never seen in a female dancer.
The other two finalists, both guys (the other four girls were out in the first half of the season…deservedly so IMO) were great, but IMO there’s no contest.
Kent, the squee patrol darling, is cute. That’s his problem. Amazing technique, but the visual attitude of a child. His body language and facial expressions generally give me the creeps.There’s real hope for him…the last two weeks have shown real growth on the maturity front…but it’s an attitude he’s got to shed. He’s an Iowa farm boy and I read him as someone who’s used this tactic unconsciously and a lot to protect himself against local manly men attitudes. It’s safe to be what he is, do what he does, as long as he exudes infantile behavior. As I say, there have been marvelous strides on his part toward owning his maturity in the last couple of weeks, and he’s going to be a very exciting dancer…once he’s tamed the deer in the headlights expressions. But he’s weak in the upper body and some styles completely elude him.
Robert has really surprised us (CJ and me) in the past few weeks. He actually had the same problem…way too overexcited and “on” for the cameras…and he’s got several years on Kent, who is only 18. But Robert has settled extremely well the last few weeks and his dancing last night was top notch, beginning to end. He’s one who might well have been out earlier if it hadn’t been for Alex’s forced withdrawal, and I think, for all I hate Alex being injured, that that gave Robert a bit of a wakeup call. He’s been much more focused since then. He’s got the upper body strength Kent lacks, but I don’t find his “pretty” lines to be very pretty…yet. His contortionist moved are great, but when he needs to exude grace, it’s still a bit forced.
It doesn’t really matter who wins tonight…they’re all great dancers, and I’m quite certain there are great careers ahead for all ten finalists…and likely some who didn’t make it into the finals, but if Lauren doesn’t get the crown tonight…it’ll be an even bigger mistake than Adam losing AI.
Good Luck, Lauren!!!!!